January 8th is a crucial day for the history of rock & roll. How much do you want to bet some of them might have felt a certain yen to go into music (or at least show business) once they discovered they shared a birthday with a king? Can you guess who it is?
January 1:
Spanish bandleader Xavier Cugat (1900-1990), Jazz/soul singer Arthur Prysock (1924-1997), Modern Jazz Quartet founder/vibraphonist Milt Jackson (1923-1999), Rock musician Country Joe McDonald (1942), Old-school rap pioneer Grandmaster Flash (1958)
January 2:
Opera singer/actor James Melton (1904-1961), Modern Jazz Quartet founder/drummer Kenny Clarke (1914-1985), Singer Julius LaRosa (1930-2016), Country Music Hall Of Fame singer/songwriter Roger Miller (1936-1992), Hoobastank frontman Doug Robb (1975), Jazz trombonist Trombone Shorty (1986)
January 3:
Danish pianist/comedian Victor Borge (1909-2000), British music producer George Martin (1926-2016), Pop composer Van Dyke Parks (1942), Rock singer/songwriter Stephen Stills (1945), Led Zeppelin bassist John Paul Jones (1946), Daft Punk co-founder Thomas Bangalter (1975), R&B singer Lloyd (1986)
January 4:
Jazz singer/musician Slim Gaillard (1916-1991), Opera singer Grace Bumbry (1937), British jazz guitarist John McLaughlin (1942), Jazz singer Susannah McCorkle (1946-2001), Soul singer Arthur Conley (1946-2003), Talk Talk frontman Mark Hollis (1955), Joy Division guitarist/New Order frontman Bernard Sumner (1956), Country singer/Grand Ole Opry member Patty Loveless (1957), R.E.M. frontman Michael Stipe (1960), Portishead frontwoman Beth Gibbons (1965), Country singer/songwriter Deana Carter (1966)
January 5:
Music executive/Sun Records founder Sam Phillips (1924-2003), Classical pianists Alfred Brendel (1931) and Maurizio Pollini (1942), Blondie founder/guitarist Chris Stein (1950), Folk singer/songwriter Iris DeMent (1961), Rock musician Marilyn Manson (1969), Canadian DJ/music producer Deadmau5 (1981)
January 6:
Russian composer Alexander Scriabin (1872-1915), Bluegrass pioneer Earl Scruggs (1924-2012), R&B singer/songwriter WIlbert Harrison (1929-1994), Soul singer Doris Troy (1937-2004), Soul music composer/producer Van McCoy (1940-1979), Pink Floyd founder/guitarist Syd Barrett (1946-2006), British folk singer/songwriter Sandy Denny (1947-1978), Fabulous Thunderbirds frontman Kim Wilson (1951), AC/DC founder/guitarist Malcolm Young (1953), Mother Love Bone frontman Andrew Wood (1966-1990), Indian composer A.R. Rahman (1967), Rapper Mike Jones (1981), Arctic Monkeys frontman Alex Turner (1986), Singer James Durbin (1989)
January 7:
British jazz singer Al Bowlly (1899-1941), French composer/pianist Francis Poulenc (1899-1963),Country singer Jack Greene (1930-2013), Raiders frontman Paul Revere (1938-2014), Strawbs frontman Dave Cousins (1945), Everett-born singer/songwriter Kenny Loggins (1948), Five For Fighting founder John Ondrasik (1965), Country singer/songwriter/Big & Rich founder John Rich (1974), R&B singer Aloe Blacc (1979)
January 8:
Blues singer/guitarist Tampa Red (1904-1981), Opera singer Giorgio Tozzi (1923-2011), “The King Of Rock & Roll” Elvis Presley (1935-1977), Welshsinger Shirley Bassey (1937), Soul singer/Imperial “Little Anthony” Gourdine (1941), Doors founder/guitarist Robby Krieger (1946), British rock icon David Bowie (1947-2016), Loverboy frontman Mike Reno (1955), Canadian singer/songwriter Ron Sexsmith (1964), Mother Love Bone frontman Andrew Wood (1966-1990), Singer/actress/Rilo Kiley frontwoman Jenny Lewis (1976)
January 9:
British singer/actress Gracie Fields (1898-1979), Jazz guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli [father of John] (1926), Italian singer Domenico Modugno (1928-1994), Folk music icon Joan Baez (1941), American-born British singer/songwriter/producer Scott Walker (1944), Rock guitarist/Led Zeppelin founder Jimmy Page (1944), Rock singer/New York Dolls frontman David Johansen (1950), Country singer Crystal Gayle (1951), Rock musician Dave Matthews (1967), Smash Mouth frontman Steve Harwell (1967), Belgian singer Lara Fabian (1970), Jamaican rapper Sean Paul (1973), Scottish singer/songwriter Paolo Nutini (1987)
January 10:
Entertainer/”Scarecrow” Ray Bolger (1904-1987), R&B bandleader Buddy Johnson [writer of “Since I Fell For You”] (1915-1977), Jazz drummer Max Roach (1924-2007), Singer/rock pioneer Johnnie Ray (1927-1990), Singer Scott McKenzie (1939-2012), Singer/songwriter Jim Croce (1943-1973), Singer Frank Sinatra, Jr. (1944-2016), Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame singer Rod Stewart (1945), Steely Dan founder/singer Donald Fagen (1948), Rock singer/songwriter Alejandro Escovedo (1951), Singer Pat Benatar (1953), Singer/songwriter Shawn Colvin (1956), Crash Test Dummies frontman Brad Roberts (1964)
January 11:
Blues singer Slim Harpo (1924-1970), E Street Band saxophonist Clarence Clemons (1942-2011), Country singer/songwriter Naomi Judd (1946), Jazz guitarist Lee Ritenour (1952), Singer/songwriter Robert Earl Keen (1956), R&B singer/songwriter Rahsaan Patterson (1974), Australian singer Cody Simpson (1997)
January 12:
Blues singer/songwriter/guitarist Mississippi Fred McDowell (1904-1972), Country Music Hall Of Fame singing cowboy Tex Ritter [father of John] (1905-1974), Blues singer/pianist Jay McShann (1916-2006), Composer Morton Feldman (1926-1987), Country Music Hall Of Fame/Grand Ole Opry member Ray Price (1926-2013), R&B singer/actress/”Miss Rhythm” Ruth Brown (1928-2006), Folk singer/Limeliters founder Glenn Yarbrough (1930-2016), British blues singer Long John Baldry (1941-2005), Jazz pianist/composer George Duke (1946-2013), Big Star founder/guitarist Chris Bell (1951-1978), Roxette founder/guitarist Per Gessle (1959), Rock singer/filmmaker Rob Zombie (1965), Rapper Raekwon (1970), Rage Against The Machine frontman Zack de la Rocha (1970), Jars Of Clay frontman Dan Haseltine (1973), British singer/”Sporty Spice” Mel C (1974), Gospel singer/songwriter Jeremy Camp (1978), R&B singer Amerie (1981)
January 13:
Vaudeville entertainer/”The Last Of The Red Hot Mamas” Sophie Tucker (1887-1966), British composer Richard Addinsell (1904-1977), 4-time Tony Award-winning entertainer Gwen Verdon (1925-2000), Jazz guitarist Joe Pass (1929-1994), Rock guitarist Trevor Rabin (1954), Australian singer/songwriter Paul Kelly (1955), Madn
ess frontman Graham “Suggs” McPherson (1961), Flaming Lips frontman Wayne Coyne (1961), Country singer Trace Adkins (1962)
January 14:
Singer Russ Columbo (1908-1934), Entertainer Jack Jones [son of Allan] (1938), New Orleans singer/songwriter/producer Allen Toussaint (1938-2015), Grammy Award/Academy Award-winning musician/producer T-Bone Burnett (1948), Allman Brothers Band bassist Lamar Williams (1949-1983), Queensryche frontman Geoff Tate (1959), White Lion frontman Mike Tramp (1961), Rapper Slick Rick (1965), Rapper/actor LL Cool J (1968), Nirvana drummer/Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl (1969), Singer/songwriter Marc Broussard (1982), Kings Of Leon frontman/guitarist Caleb Followill (1982), British singer Frankie Bridge (1989)
January 15:
Welsh composer/actor Ivor Novello (1893-1951), Drummer/bandleader Gene Krupa (1909-1973), Zydeco musician Queen Ida (1929), Blues guitarist Earl Hooker (1930-1970), Avant-garde singer/songwriter Captain Beefheart (1941-2010), Lynyrd Skynyrd frontman Ronnie Van Zant (1948-1977), Rapper Pitbull (1981), Singer/songwriter Howie Day (1981), DJ/music producer Skrillex (1988)
January 16:
Broadway icon Ethel Merman (1908-1984), Opera singer Marilyn Horne (1934), Soul singer/guitarist Barbara Lynn (1942), Country Music Hall Of Fame/Grand Ole Opry member Ronnie Milsap (1943), Singer/songwriter Jim Stafford (1944), Can frontman Damo Suzuki (1950), R&B singer Sade (1959), Singer/songwriter Jill Sobule (1965), R&B singer Aaliyah (1979-2001), Broadway composer/actor Lin-Manuel Miranda (1980)
January 17:
Jazz singer/actress Eartha Kitt (1927-2008), Jazz pianist Cedar Walton (1934-2013), Rolling Stones guitarist Mick Taylor (1949), Academy Award-winning Japanese composer Ryuichi Sakomoto (1952), British singer Paul Young (1956), Bangles frontwoman/guitarist Susanna Hoffs (1959), British singer/songwriter Richard Hawley (1967), Rapper/producer Li’l Jon (1971), Rapper/singer Kid Rock (1971), Singer/actress Zooey Deschanel (1980), Scottish DJ/producer Calvin Harris (1984)
January 18:
Entertainer Danny Kaye (1911-1987), Temptation David Ruffin (1941-1991), Singer Bobby Goldsboro (1941), Thompson Twins founder Tom Bailey (1954), Rock musician/composer Jim O’Rourke (1969), Rapper DJ Quik (1970), Korn frontman Jonathan Davis (1971), British R&B singer Estelle (1980), Irish R&B singer Samantha Mumba (1983)
January 19:
Rock pioneer Phil Everly (1939-2014), British singer/actor Michael Crawford (1942), Rock and Hall Of Fame singer Janis Joplin (1943-1970), Singer/actress/teen idol Shelley Fabares (1944), Country Music Hall Of Fame/Grand Ole Opry singer/songwriter Dolly Parton (1946), British singer Robert Palmer (1949-2003), Motels frontwoman Martha Davis (1951), Singer/actor Desi Arnaz, Jr. (1953), Ugly Kid Joe frontman Whitfield Crane (1968), Marcy Playground frontman John Wozniak (1971)
January 20:
Blues pioneer Huddie “Leadbelly” Ledbetter (1888-1949), Trumpeter/bandleader Ray Anthony (1922), Country singer/yodeler Slim Whitman (1923-2013), Jazz drummer Jimmy Cobb (1929), Kiss guitarist Paul Stanley (1952), Country singer John Michael Montgomery (1965), M People frontwoman Heather Small (1965), L.A. Guns founder/guitarist Tracii Guns (1966), Singer/songwriter Edwin McCain (1970), Roots drummer Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson (1971), Take That frontman Gary Barlow (1971)
January 21:
Opera singer Placido Domingo (1941), Folk singer/songwriter Richie Havens (1941-2013), Singer/songwriter/actor Mac Davis (1942), Soul singer Edwin Starr (1942-2003), British R&B singer Billy Ocean (1950), DJ/Run-DMC founder Jam Master Jay (1965-2002), R&B singer Tweet (1971), Folk singer/songwriter Cat Power (1972), British singer/”Baby Spice” Emma Bunton (1976)
January 22:
Opera singer Rosa Ponselle (1897-1981), Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame singer Sam Cooke (1931-1964), Journey frontman Steve Perry (1949), INXS frontman Michael Hutchence (1960-1997), British singer Andrew Roachford (1965), Australian rock singer/guitarist Orianthi (1985)
January 23:
2-time Tony Award-winning entertainer Chita Rivera (1933), Jazz vibraphonist Gary Burton (1943), Soul singer Anita Pointer (1948), Cheap Trick frontman Robin Zander (1953), Singer/songwriter Jonatha Brooke (1964)
January 24:
Jazz saxophonist Jimmy Forrest (1920-1980), Country singer/violinist Doug Kershaw (1936), Country singer/comedian Ray Stevens (1939), Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame singer/songwriter Neil Diamond (1941), Soul singer Aaron Neville (1941), Singer/songwriter Warren Zevon (1947-2003), Comedian/musician John Belushi (1949-1982), Singer/producer Matthew Wilder (1953), Squeeze keyboardist/British TV host Jools Holland (1958), Red House Painters founder/guitarist Mark Kozelek (1967), Dream Theater bassist John Myung (1967), Singer/songwriter/pianist Diane Birch (1983)
January 25:
Broadway/nightclub singer Florence Mills (1896-1927), Blues singer/guitarist Sleepy John Estes (1899-1977), British folk singer/songwriter Ewan MacColl [father of Kirsty] (1915-1989), Brazilian singer/songwriter Antonio Carlos Jobim (1927-1994), Jazz saxophonist Benny Golson (1929), Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame singer Etta James (1938-2012), 15-time Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter/pianist Alicia Keys (1981)
January 26:
Austrian singer/”The Sound Of Music” inspiration Maria Von Trapp (1905-1987), French jazz violinist Stephane Grappelli (1908-1997), Composer James Van Heusen (1913-1990), Country singer Dave Rowland (1942), Soul singer Jean Knight (1943), Singer/songwriter Lucinda Williams (1953), Van Halen founder/guitarist Eddie Van Halen (1955), R&B singer Anita Baker (1958), Cinderella frontman Tom Keifer (1961), Wham! Co-founder Andrew Ridgeley (1963), Gospel singer Kirk Franklin (1970), Venezuelan violinist/conductor Gustavo Dudamel (1981)
January 27:
Austrian composer Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756-1791), Composers Will Marion Cook (1869-1944) and Jerome Kern (1885-1945), Jazz singer/trumpeter Hot Lips Page (1908-1954), Blues singer/guitarist Elmore James (1918-1963), Music producer/”Alvin & The Chipmunks” creator Ross Bagdasarian (1919-1972), Blues Hall Of Fame/Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame singer Bobby “Blue” Bland (1930-2013), Jazz vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson (1941-2016), Pink Floyd founder/drummer Nick Mason (1944), Cowboy Junkies frontwoman Margo Timmins (1961), British DJ/rapper Tricky (1967), Rock singer/Faith No More frontman Mike Patton (1968)
January 28:
Polish pianist Artur Rubinstein (1887-1982), British jazz saxophonist Ronnie Scott (1927-1996), British clarinetist Acker Bilk (1929-2014), British composer John Tavener (1944-2013), British rock musician/Soft Machine founder Robert Wyatt (1945), Singer/songwriter Sam Phillips (1962), Rapper Rakim (1968), Canadian singer/songwriter Sarah McLachlan (1968), R&B singer Anthony Hamilton (1971), Rapper Rick Ross (1976), Backstreet Boys founder/singer Nick Carter (1980), Rapper J. Cole (1985)
January 29:
British composer Frederick Delius (1862-1934), Broadway entertainer John Raitt [father of Bonnie] (1917-2005), British composer Leslie Bricusse (1931), Soul singer Bettye LaVette (1946), R&B singer/Gap Band founder Charlie Wilson (1953), Rock singer Adam Lambert (1982)
January 30:
2-time Tony Award-winning entertainer Tammy Grimes (1934), German pianist/composer Horst Jankowski (1936-1998), Jefferson Airplane founder/guitarist Marty Balin (1942)
, Singer/drummer/Genesis frontman Phil Collins (1951), American Music Club frontman Mark Eitzel (1959), R&B singer/Shalamar founder Jody Watley (1959), Singer/songwriter Josh Kelley (1980), Rapper Kid Cudi (1984)
January 31:
Austrian composer Franz Schubert (1797-1828), Entertainer Eddie Cantor (1892-1964), Composer/bandleader Isham Jones (1894-1956), Blues singer/pianist Roosevelt Sykes (1906-1983), Jazz trumpeter Bobby Hackett (1915-1976), 3-time Tony Award-winning entertainer Carol Channing (1921), Opera singer/actor Mario Lanza (1921-1959), Soul singer/rock pioneer Chuck Willis (1928-1958), Composer Philip Glass (1937), Blues singer/harmonica player Charlie Musselwhite (1944), K.C. & The Sunshine Band founder Harry Wayne Casey (1951), Dutch rock guitarist Adrian Vandenberg (1954), The Sex Pistols/Public Image, Ltd. frontman John Lydon [formerly Johnny Rotten] (1956), British singer/songwriter Lloyd Cole (1961), Slayer guitarist Jeff Hanneman (1964-2013), NOFX frontman/bassist Fat Mike (1967), Singer/songwriter/producer Justin Timberlake (1981), Mumford & Sons frontman Marcus Mumford (1987)
